10.08.2012

suspect sought in possible austin hate crime

In Austin, police have released surveillance video of a possible hate crime that occurred a couple of weeks ago in the hopes of finding the attacker -- "an Asian male in his late 20s or early 30s" who brutally assaulted another man at a pizza trailer: Surveillance video shows violent downtown attack.

As you can see, the video shows the suspect picking a fight with one guy for no apparent reason, then brutally punching another man in the face several times, knocking out several of his teeth. The victim, Andrew Oppleman, believes he was attacked because he's gay:

Oppleman and his friend Nick Soret were waiting at the Roppolo Pizza Truck at 4th Street and Colorado when an Asian man in a baseball cap began random ally talking to Soret.
“He was like, 'Hey what are you looking at? You think I'm cute? I see you looking at me' and he was in my face. I said, 'I'm not, I'm just waiting, and it's my turn,'" said Soret to KVUE Friday afternoon.
In the video, captured on a surveillance camera mounted on the Roppolo's Pizza trailer, Soret is seen walking up to the counter and picking up a slice of pizza. A man to his side, wearing a baseball cap and glasses, then turns to Soret. Within moments the man pushes the pizza out of Soret's hand. Seconds later Oppleman is seen stepping forward from the curb. The attacker then turns to Oppleman, punching him in the face. Oppleman starts to bleed. He lost several teeth in the punch, but the attack wasn't over. In the video, police watch as the attacker turns around again and punches Soret before walking off.

Authorities are still reportedly trying to determine if the attacks are considered hate crimes. The attacker ran away, but another man who was with the suspect, Jin Young Park, was arrested and charged with public intoxication. Unfortunately, that guy has since packed up and disappeared.

Come forward and face justice, you hateful moron. Police describe the attacker as an Asian male in his late 20s or early 30s. Police say he's about 6 feet tall with a muscular build. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 472-TIPS.